Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-18
LICENSES
Increase of Business in
Twelve Months.
A GAIN OF S3,72O.
Where the Money Comes From
And How Many
Pay 1t.

strangers VINO Visit Los Angeles
have no idea of the increase that has
occurred in business during the past
year and to obtain correct idea of
the difference between the present
and the past, the License Collectors
Office was visited by a representative
of the HERALD a few days ago. 1t is
only necessary to state that he found
that the income from licenses had in
creased from $3.50 in July 1886 to
81, 900 in July 1887. An increase of
1920 or forty per cent, in twelve
months, might be considered to indi-
cate very prosperous state of affairs
and the same percentage applied to
the growth of the population and of
the number of residences would prob
ably come nearer to the real state of
affairs than any other figures which
might be prepared. The probability
is, however, that a portion of this in
crease is due to the diligence of City
Clerk Teed, for an inspection of the
books reveals the fact that an increase
of about $4,000 has taken place in the
last six months or since Mr.. Teed has
been in office. In considering the in
crease of business places in the city
the most striking advance in number
is in the real estate business. In July
last year there were 14S real estate
licenses issued, while this month there
have been 262, an increase of Ia.
This is one branch of trade which is
fourishing to say the least.
INCREASE OF BUSINESS.
Included under the head of
merchandise" are all those whole
sale and retail establishments, stores
and places of trade of every kind and
description, including wood and coal
yards and places for selling lumber,
where articles of personal property are
sold as business; drug stores, dry
goods stores, etc. The increase in
these establishments has been from
542 to 620, or IS. Just how this in
crease is divided among the different
branches of trade the licenses do not
indicate, since the grades are not
divided according to the class of busi-
ness, but according to the amount of
money taken in each month by the
Thus the first class in
cludes all whose MONTH. sales aver
age $4,000 or over; the second class,
whose sales average $1,000 to $4,000
the third, with sales be-
tween $500 and $1,000; the fourth
class, with the amounts fixed between
$500 and $500, and the fifth class,
including all whose monthly sales
average less than $780, This month
the merchandise licenses indicated
that there were II houses whose
sales were over $4,000; "a
whose sales were over 5000, but not
$40, 900; 81 whose sales ranged between
$2500 and $4,000; 213 where sales
were over $500, but not $2500; and
800 who cannot sell $500 worth of
goods per month.
OTHER BRANCHES.
In this list of persons doing business
the butcher shops are not included,
and the figures indicate in this line
that the population has increased so as
to demand twenty additional markets
where meat can be obtained. In this
line of business the dividing line be-
tween 81 and So licenses is placed at
$400 monthly sales; those above pay
ing So and those below that figure
paying 81. Under former administra
tions licenses were apparently not col
lected for billiard tables in all the
or else ne taste for that game
has grown very rapidly, for while in
July, 1886, but four licenses were col
lected; this month 5S were paid for,
a difference of "a.
Another indication of the increase
Of population is in the number of
restaurants which, in July of last year,
was 40, while there are now 81 OF all
classes. The increase in this line
of business is not so great as
in some others and perhaps this might
be taken as good sign. Granted that
the increase of other lines of business
shows an increase in the population,
the fact that there has not been a cor
increase in restaurants
shows that more homes have been
created and that where year ago
many people were living here in
rooms, they are now boarding at
home. This may not be so satisfac-
tory to restaraunters but it is indica-
tive of better state of affairs and one
which cannot be regretted
UNDERTAKERs AND SALOONS.
Only one undertaking firm has been
added to the list during the year and
there are but four firms in the city.
Four undertaking firms in a city of
so 900 inhabitants is not Il large num-
Der by any means, and the proprietors
Of these claim that they obtain the
largest part of their business from WIS.,
ting people who come here too late
for the climate to do them any good.
If the decrease in lines of business be
looked for it is found that the saloons
have decreased from $50 to 142
wholesale liquor dealers from 81 to Is /;
galleries from 10 to 8; auc-
tioneers from IL to5 and pawnbrokers
from 6 to 5. On the other hand it is
found that banks paying monthly
licenses have increased from 3 to 4 +;
ice companies from to 2; hacks from
S8 to 81; insurance companies from 30
to So; laundries from 7 to 8, and ex-
press wagons from 1853 to 208.
Turning from civilized business to
that conducted by the Chinese, it is
found that there has been an increase
here as we'll. Chinese laundries still
remain 20 in number, but the pawn
broker shops have been increased by
l and the stores by two. Chinese
restaurants have been increased by
two, and while vegetable peddlers
paid nothing in July of last year this
month 80 of them walked upand paid
$5 apiece. -.
In order that the relative condition
Of the business may be considered the
following table is presented, showing